This looks like a wonderful entry level camera for a growing market of consumers.
However, I don't understand why there is a lack of index finger dial. This dial was the biggest selling point for me when entering the market. It was far more intuitive and, combined with the thumb dial, allowed me to understand the mechanics of aperture and shutter speeds. The controls are "right there". :T

people shooting 99,9% of the time in FULL AUTO dont need this dial, the more you put on a cam, the more sophisticated it is for people that buy this cam to take snapshots. This cam is not for the advanced photographer that wants an upgrade.

I am new to the forum, but not to the website. I have few question that I want to address.

Should I buy Nikon D3100 body now + Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 HSM? I know the rule... Spend more on the glass.

OR

Should I wait for Nikon 5100? (Not sure if this is the naming scheme) Will it have useful features that Nikon D3100 does not have?

Will Nikon release it soon? I've read it's a must update for to Nikon D5000. Recently, price for D5000 went down a bit, so I figured there is an upcoming release? Same pricing happened for Canon T2i. Last couple of weeks, the price for the body went down as low as $595, and then the T3i was announced.

I am not entirely sure if this is the right place to address my concerns and questions. I apologize in advance!

Regards,
Leonard

Last edited by voxox on Sat Feb 12, 2011 2:18 am, edited 3 times in total.

Well, if Nikon replays what they did when they launched the D5000 (which was taking many features from the D90), you can expect to see some nice things taken directly from the D7000 in the "D5100", with the nice articulated screen being the icing of the cake. If you don't mind the wait and the extra $$$ then I think it could be worth the wait.

Now, I was wondering... Do we have a time frame when Nikon D5100 will be released? I don't expect anyone to know that directly, but I thought looking back at history of Nikon DSLR releases, someone might have an answer.

Well, I can tell is not going to be now, there's currently a relevant photo shop at Japan ("CP+" I think it was called) and there are no new releases from Nikon in their stand. My guess is that it won't come any soone than this summer, but this thing change from one day to the other, perhaps the release of the T3i will make Nikon rush things a little bit... Who knows?

Now is up to you if you're willing to wait for a new release or buy something that's on the shelves at present. BTW, since you seem to want something more advanced than the D3100, have you considered the new D7000? Is one of the nicest DSLRs in the market and it's just out of the oven, take into account that when the "D5100" is released it definitively won't be much cheaper, at least during the first few months after its release

My assumption would be April release, if I am correct that is the next moment for Nikon to show something (Start of a new financial year or such). On NikonRumors is being said that the entire DSLR line-up will be refreshed by the end of this year. So besides D3100 and D7000 we will see the D5100 - D400/D9000 - D800 - D4 at the very least.